Innovations in Education: Successful Charter Schools

Publisher: U.S. Department of Education
Publication Date: 2004, June
Full text available online at: http://www.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/charter/index.html

Brief Description

This U.S. Department of Education guide details promising methods used by charter schools to raise student achievement, including school operation, mission, and education program.

The guide is divided into two parts: The first section provides an overview of common elements of these excellent schools, including: organizational structure; leadership and mission; innovative curricula and programs; efforts to promote a community of continuous learning; partnerships with parents and the community; and accountability for results. The second section provides rich descriptions about each of the schools featured.

The Department's Office of Innovation and Improvement commissioned the guide to share practical advice and concrete examples from eight charter schools, all of which are meeting state standards of accountability for performance results of all students, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. All of the schools have improved student achievement over the past three years.

*WestEd conducted the research and developed this guide for the Office of Innovation and Improvement.

To read other guides in USDE's Innovations in Education series, visit SchoolsMovingUp's following links:

Innovations in Education: Creating Strong District School Choice Programs

Innovations in Education: Pathways to School Leadership

Innovations in Education: Creating Strong Supplemental Educational Services Programs

Innovations in Education: Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification